Increasing Employees’ Productivity in the Home Office

Employees working from home is a common practice these days with small and large businesses. I work from home often and know several people that do; they work for small and large companies alike. There are several managerial benefits from allowing employees to work from home, especially if you follow a few tips.

Benefits of Employees Working From Home

Encouraging employees to work from home gives them more flexibility and allows them to get more accomplished because they don’t have co-workers distracting them every five minutes. Not to mention that business owners often get more work done if employees are not in the office interrupting their workflows with constant questions.

Carl recently provided business owners tips for increasing productivity. Now, we’re focusing on employees. If you know someone that works at home, pass these tips along—because not everyone can transition easily from a corporate environment to a home office.

Productivity Tips for Working From Home

1. Designate a workplace exclusively for work. Home workers need an office, desk or work area that is only used for work. This helps employees “get in the zone,” allowing for better concentration.

Having a dedicated work spot has another benefit. If employees are at home with others, working from the home office signals to spouses and children that employees are “at work” and shouldn’t be interrupted—it sets boundaries.

2. Do your normal morning routine. Just because employees are working at home doesn’t mean that they should stay in their PJs all day. Not eating a normal breakfast or showering sets a different tone for the day, making it feel more like a weekend than a weekday. Going through the normal routine sends the signal to the brain that it’s time to work.

3. Document progress and accomplishments. Employees should document what they accomplish for the day and where each project stands. This helps workers easily pick up where they left off the next day. It also serves as evidence for managers that work is getting done.

4. Take short breaks. People can’t work four hours straight. According to experts, quick breaks to stretch your legs give your eyes a break from squinting at a computer screen will increase productivity. Your mind will appreciate the breaks as well.

About Lindsey Perkins Wade

The Private Business Owner – A Generational Equity Blog

The Private Business Owner is an online publication sponsored by Generational Equity. PBO aims to provide useful tips and information that will improve both the lives and businesses of entrepreneurs, as well as provide valuable insight into the company exit process through bi-weekly M&A Digests.